Early treatment with disease modifying drugs

A trial of Rebif in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) found that the proportion of people who had been diagnosed with definite MS was lower in the taking the drug from the start of the study than in the group that had originally been on a placebo for the first two years.

Contraceptives and relapses

Neurological services declining

A Neurological Alliance survey has found a decline in neurological services since a previous study in 2014. There were increases in the proportion of people seeking a diagnosis who saw their GP five or more times before seeing a neurologist; decrease in the proportion who felt involved in making choices; and a drop in people who feel that health professionals work well together

Access to neurologists

A report by the Association of British Neurologists (ABN) found wide discrepancies in access to neurologists and specialist services such as MRI scans between neuroscience centres and district general hospitals

Caroline Wyatt and stem cell therapy

Jeremy Vine's show on Radio 2 included an interview with the BBC reporter Caroline Wyatt, who recently had stem cell therapy for her MS. She describes her diagnosis, her treatment the recovery process. Also on the BBC, the World Service has broadcast an investigation into clinics that charge people with long-term conditions for experimental stem cell approaches